Not like any others. North and south, cold Siberia and humid subtropics are fancifully mixed here. Lianas of Chinese magnolia vine, actinidia grow next to larch, next to spruce - hornbeam and yew, on mountain slopes at the latitude of Crimea - thickets of elfin cedar ...

All this is a legacy of ancient geological history. The ice of the great glaciations did not reach here, and the newcomers from the north, who appeared here in the era of ballistic cooling, could not completely displace the inhabitants of the warm, humid forests of the Tertiary period.

If somewhere in Siberia or Northern Europe pre-glacial relics are considered units, then here, in the Sikhote-Alin mountains, there are many of them. Here is an iron birch, a hornbeam, a yew - the inhabitants of the tertiary forests that once covered the boundless expanses of the Eurasian continent.

Here are ginseng, lure, aralia, eleutherococcus - representatives of the famous Araliaceae family, which appeared on Earth even earlier, in the Cretaceous period, more than 70 million years ago. Here is the microbiota - a coniferous shrub: undersized, no higher than the knee, and similar to fans of cypress branches set upright; this is a contemporary of the Aralievs, at the beginning of the Tertiary period it already grew throughout Eurasia, its fossils are everywhere, and now it has been preserved only here, in the mountains of Sikhote-Alin ...

You need to know what exactly you are looking for when buying this or that conifer

Ideally, it's always better to look at the plant first and choose for yourself, rather than entrusting it to a housemate or landscape architect. But sometimes the postal service will be able to help you, especially in remote areas where there is no nearby gardening center or a good plant expert. For coniferous trees and shrubs, as with all other plants, it is important that your expectations match what you pay for, so that the plant is of appropriate quality and lives up to its name. In the West, many companies give certain guarantees for replacement or service in case of any circumstances or problems within a year after the purchase of the plant.

• Trees
• In the forest

Forest like reality

At the dawn of human civilization, man's attitude to the forest was ambiguous, often hostile. On the one hand, the wild forest was a source of firewood, building materials, food for a person, and sometimes served as protection from all kinds of enemies. On the other hand, man had to compete with the forest for the land necessary for the development of agriculture or the construction of settlements. Lands for life and agriculture, at least in the northern countries, had to be literally won back from the forest, and significant efforts had to be invested in clearing them. Therefore, the forest was often perceived as an enemy, a symbol of savagery, desolation, lack of progress and civilization; vast forest areas often received the names "wastelands", "deserts" - as places where there is literally nothing useful, worthy of at least mention.

• Trees
• In the forest

The state is the owner of Russia's forest lands. But the government does not have reliable information about their current state, ongoing work and the amount of funding needed.

• Trees
• In the forest
• Health

It is good to wander through the coniferous forest, admire the trees, breathe clean, tart, healing air. Healing because the needles emit volatile aromatic substances that kill harmful microorganisms and have a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract and the human nervous system.

• Trees
• In the forest
• Ecology

An article about why spruce has become an invariable attribute of the New Year and Christmas holidays, and is there any sacred meaning in this? Oddly enough, our distant ancestors deified trees and decorated conifers, because. it was believed that it was the pines and spruces that bring peace, have vitality and predict immortality. Spruces have been decorated since ancient times, because. they believed that it was in their crown that spirits lived, whom people always tried to appease, and from whom they asked for what they wanted, making their requests and uttering conspiracies. It turned out that it was the spruce that became the symbol of Christmas in Europe. After that, this tradition spread to the territory of Russia. The Americans, as always, approached this issue with a commercial invention. They came up with decorate and light up Christmas trees.

• Trees
• In the forest
• Fir
• Spruce
• Ecology

Christmas toys are not only a symbol of a magical holiday. For many decorations, you may well learn history. Each of the luminous balls is able to tell a lot about the whole era, time, country where it was born. So, let's go on an interesting journey.

• Trees
• Fir
• Spruce
• Ecology

New Year holidays are perhaps the most beloved and certainly the most popular days of the year! At this time, I so want to create a unique cozy festive atmosphere in the house. Traditionally, we decorate a Christmas tree or fir, hang colorful garlands and tinsel, decorate household items with balls, bells and snowflakes. But what if you want to make the New Year's interior truly stylish and unique?

• Trees
• In the forest
• Ecology

Green plantings in the places of recreation of the population form forests, groves, groups of trees and shrubs, alleys, hedges, decorative lawns and flower plantings are also created. An important task at the same time is to create an organic relationship between planting coniferous trees in the city with natural and artificial reservoirs, terrain and architectural structures.

• Trees
• In the forest

Logging works are carried out in various natural and production conditions. Taxation indicators of forest stands and soil and soil conditions of their growth, as well as climatic conditions, differ. When choosing a technological process, it is necessary to take into account a significant number of factors that affect the productivity and efficiency of machines, the minimum amount of manual labor, the maximum and rational use of tree biomass, and the achievement of a minimum production cost. The types of consumer productions have a significant impact on the choice of the technological process. wood and their territorial location relative to the forest in general and cutting areas in particular.

• Trees
• In the forest
• Health
• Ecology
• Reserve
• Mushrooms

Modern man does not have much free time. And if it does form, it is worth spending it with maximum benefit for the body and soul. There are many hobbies and hobbies. And it is worth thinking about those of them that involve trips out of town. After all, fishing on the banks of a picturesque river or even just a walk in the forest helps to relieve stress and improve health.

• Trees
• In the forest

A little about the morphology of conifers

Most modern gymnosperms belong to the coniferous subclass: they are called so because of modified leaves called needles, or needles. These plants are not as diverse as angiosperms, but deserve attention if only because of their ancient history, the huge role they play in nature and economy, and their amazing ability to survive.

The territory of the Far East is subject to the general laws of latitudinal zonality, which manifests itself here in a very peculiar way.

The forest zone of the Far East can be divided into 4 subzones:

1. Northern coniferous forests of the Okhotsk type - Kamchatka and the Khabarovsk Territory to Ayan - Dahurian larch, stone birch, fragrant poplar, chosenia, and elfin cedar

2. Medium coniferous forests of the Okhotsk type - from Ayan to Amur - Dahurian larch, stone birch, Ayan spruce, white fir.

3. Southern coniferous forests with the participation of deciduous species - from Amgun to Sikhote-Alin, northern Sakhalin - Korean cedar, Scotch pine, Far Eastern birch and aspen appear

4. Mixed coniferous-deciduous forests - middle Amur, Ussuri, Sikhote-Alin, southern Sakhalin. The climate here is monsoonal, with warm summers but rather harsh winters.

The growing season (frost-free period) begins in April and lasts from 160 days (in the north of the zone) to 190 - in the east; the sum of the effective temperature is 2300-2900 °C. Precipitation (up to 1170 mm per year) falls mainly in summer in the form of heavy and prolonged rains, often causing floods on rivers.

The monsoon climate, due to the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, in combination with fertile soils, contributed to the development of multi-tiered coniferous-deciduous forests with a wide variety of tree, shrub, semi-shrub and liana species (more than 280 in total). There was no glacier here, and relics of the Tertiary period have been preserved (spiky yew, microbiota, calopanax, Amur velvet, girlish grape triostrate, etc.), as well as vicarious species of European plants. The main coniferous forest-forming species are: Ayan and Siberian spruce, white and whole-leaved fir, Dahurian larch, Korean cedar, Scots pine, dwarf pine; Mongolian oak (on loaches in the form of elfin), Manchurian ash, Manchurian walnut, Amur velvet, Amur linden, small-leaved, Manchurian and green-bark maples, Korean and Maksimovich poplar, maakia, Maak bird cherry, ribbed birch, Dahurian and Schmidt.

The vegetation of the Far East is very peculiar. About 420 species of trees, shrubs and lianas grow here; about 100 of them are found nowhere except in the Far East
Vegetation zones are represented in the Far East in its mainland part by tundra, forest-tundra, taiga and mixed forests.
Low creeping shrubs and bushes grow in the Far Eastern tundra. Many of them have small hard evergreen leaves (lingonberries, cranberries, andromeda, Cassandra). Some shrubs form dense cushions or grow in the form of elfin (pine elfin, willows).

On the tops of mountain ranges, tundra vegetation penetrates to the south, while forest vegetation penetrates north along river valleys. These are forests of fragrant poplar, Dahurian larch and one of the most interesting trees of the Far East - Chozenia; its thick trunks with exfoliating bark and highly raised umbrella-shaped crown attract attention from afar. Chosenia and fragrant poplar form special riverine forests in the lower reaches of the Yana, Kolyma, Indigirka and Anadyr rivers.
To the south, to the very mouth of the Amur, along the coast of Okhotsk, taiga from Daurian larch, Siberian larch, and some kind of spruce is widespread. There are also fishing lines made of stone birch and growths of elfin cedar. Pine dwarf elfin together with shrub alder forms a shrub belt that replaces larch taiga as it rises to the mountains. The taiga in the lower reaches of the Amur consists of Ayan spruce, Dahurian larch and bud-moshuine fir.

The vegetation of the southern part of the Far East, in the subzone of mixed forests, is much richer and more diverse. This territory was not subjected to glaciation, therefore, representatives of the so-called Turgai flora, widespread in the east of Asia in the Tertiary period, have been preserved here. These remains of ancient flora, relict species, often preserved in a small area, are of great interest and need to be protected. These include, for example, aralia, calopanax, holly, velvet, maakia. Here Siberian plants found favorable conditions for themselves, therefore, in the forests. Primorye, you can find Siberian spruce, entwined with lemongrass, actinidia, Amur grapes climbing high along its trunk, standing next to white birch and Manchurian walnut, fir, under the canopy of which such exotic shrubs as deutsia, mock orange, Amur lilac (crackling) found shelter.

A typical representative of the taiga forests of Primorye is a powerful Korean cedar, growing mainly in the middle part of the slopes, along with Ayan spruce, white fir, Amur linden, yellow and stone birch. The height of the first tier of the forest reaches 30-35 m.

The species composition of the shrubs of the undergrowth and edges is very rich with representatives of the genera hazel, euonymus, rhododendron, lespedeza, healer, etc. In this zone, there are 22 species of lianas (actinidia kolomikta and acute, Chinese magnolia vine, Amur grape, etc.), which is much more than in any other region of Russia.

In the taiga forests in the south of Primorye, white fir gives way to whole-leaved fir; there are many deciduous trees (hornbeam, small-fruited, Maksimovich bird cherry, calopanax). Characterized by an abundance of shrubs. Here you can find Eleutherococcus, which forms impenetrable thickets, and elegant action, and fragrant Amur lilac. A lot of lianas (actinidia, lemongrass, grapes) densely braid trees. In such forests, about 40 species of woody plants can be counted in a small area.
In the mountains of Primorye, vertical zonality is well expressed.

In the river valleys and in the lower parts of the slopes, deciduous species predominate: Manchurian ash, velvet, Manchurian walnut, maakia, elm, Amur lilac, bird cherry Maaka. On the southern and southwestern slopes, deciduous forests of oak, hornbeam, Manchurian and false Siebold maples are often found. In autumn, these forests are full of unique beauty. Transparent openwork crowns of maples, calopanax, hornbeam, painted in yellow, pink, orange, purple tones, transmit the sun's rays well, therefore, despite the density and multi-layered nature of these forests, the abundance of undergrowth and undergrowth, they have a lot of light and air.

The middle parts of the slopes are occupied by cedar-broad-deciduous forests, which are replaced higher by spruce-fir forests of white-bark fir and Ayan spruce with an admixture of stone birch, yellow maple, and alder. Even higher grows a forest of Dahurian larch with an undergrowth of wild rosemary or elfin cedar (in the north of Primorye), or a forest of stone birch (in the south). The tops of the hills in the north are covered with dwarf pine, and in the south with microbiota.

The vegetation of Kamchatka is very peculiar. Only in the central part of the peninsula are coniferous forests of larch and Ayan spruce common. On the eastern coast of Kamchatka, near the mouth of the Semyachik River, there is a grove of Kamchatka fir. This species is not found anywhere else. Such species with a limited range are called endemic. Most of the territory is occupied by mountain forests of stone birch. These birch forests look like park plantings. They are quite rare and contain almost no admixture of other breeds. Groves of birches alternate with clearings overgrown with tall grass. Occasionally in birch forests one can find thickets of Kamchatka rhododendron. Above the forest belt there are impenetrable shrub thickets, consisting of elfin cedar, Kamchatka alder, elderberry, golden rhododendron.

In the southwestern part of Sakhalin, in the lower belt of mountains, broad-leaved forests of Mongolian oak and beautiful maple grow. Above, spruce and fir forests dominate, widespread throughout Sakhalin. They consist of Glen spruce and Sakhalin fir, close to white-bark fir. In the undergrowth grow white birch, yellow maple, mixed mountain ash and elderberry, forked viburnum and Wright, wild rose, hawthorn, and many lianas. Even higher is a belt of stone-birch forests with undergrowth of dwarf pine.
Kuril bamboo is widely distributed on Sakhalin and especially on the southern Kuril Islands. Often op grows under the canopy of a spruce-fir forest or in birch forests, and sometimes forms impenetrable thickets on the slopes, being a real disaster for travelers.

The vegetation of the northern Kuril Islands is close to Kamchatka, and the southern and partially middle islands are close to the vegetation of Japan: there are many southern species, such as magnolia, Gray's eubotrioides, and skimia. In the forests of the southern Kuriles, the abundance of lianas is striking: there are 3 types of actinidia, Kaempfer grapes, wood pliers, petiolate hydrangea, lemongrass, schizophragma. The vegetation of the Lesser Kuril Ridge (Shikotan Island) is characterized by an abundance of shrub thickets of Sargent's juniper, Gray's eubotryoides, Kamchatka wolfgrass, and especially Kuril bamboo.

The Far East occupies the extreme position of the northeast of Eurasia and the east of Russia, washed by the waters of two oceans: the Arctic and the Pacific. Due to the vast territory, the natural zones of the Far East are distinguished by the diversity and uniqueness of landscapes, flora and fauna.

Features of the nature of the Far East

The unique nature of the Far East is due to its location and the direct influence of the surrounding oceans and seas. The maritime climate in the north and the monsoon climate in the south are associated with the coastal location of the Far Eastern Territory, which are the result of the interaction between the land of North Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

As a result of the great length from north to south, the natural zones of the Russian Far East are very diverse. The mountainous terrain is interspersed with endless meadow plains. The region is marked by active seismic activity and volcanism. Here are the following zones:

• arctic deserts;
• tundra and forest tundra;
• taiga;
• deciduous forests.

Natural complexes of the Far East

On the territory of the Far East, the largest area is occupied by coniferous forests, and the smallest by arctic deserts.

• Arctic deserts

This harsh natural zone includes two islands: Gerald and Wrangel. They are characterized by mountainous terrain, with poor landscapes, in some places covered with patches of mosses and lichens. Even at the height of summer, the air temperature here does not rise above 5-10C. Winters are very severe, with little snow.

TOP 4 articleswho read along with this

Rice. 1. Polar bears on Wrangel Island

• Tundra

The tundra zone extends south from the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Most of it is reserved for the mountainous landscape. The climate of the tundra is damp and cold, as a result of which the vegetation of this region is not very diverse: not all plants are able to survive on wet, frozen soils with a low humus content. Weak evaporation of moisture has led to the formation of swampy areas.

• Taiga

The taiga or coniferous forest zone is the most extensive in the Far East and is characterized by a wide variety of landscapes. Due to the milder than the tundra zone, the climate in the taiga is widespread coniferous trees. Due to the peculiarities of their structure, they are able to withstand cold winters without loss. Pine, larch, fir, spruce are typical representatives of the taiga.

Rice. 2. Rich taiga forests of the Far East

The fauna of the taiga is very diverse. Moose, bears, foxes, wolves, squirrels live here.

• Mixed and deciduous forests

This zone is located on the lower altitudinal belt of mountains in the southern part of the Far East. It has a temperate monsoonal climate with warm, humid summers and cold winters. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna.

A characteristic feature of the Far Eastern nature in the zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is the phenomenon of gigantism among animals and plants. So, here are not uncommon trees about 40 meters high, grass in human height, water lilies with a diameter of more than a meter. The animal world is also rich in giants. The Ussuri tiger, the Amur snake, the Ussuri relic barbel, the Maaka butterfly, the king crab, the Far Eastern oyster are real giants among their relatives.

Rice. 3. Ussuri tiger

What have we learned?

The large extent of the territory of the Far East is the main reason for the wide variety of natural zones: from arctic deserts to broad-leaved forests. Briefly described natural areas allow you to create a picture of the nature of the Far Eastern Territory, in many places preserved in its original form.

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plant world- the greatest wonder of nature, the realm of beauty and our healing wealth. In the structure of the biosphere, the entire animal world can be considered as its consuming organs, and the vegetable world as energy-structural producing ones. Thus, the role of the plant world in human life can hardly be overestimated. In general, it is a powerful component of the physical and mental health of humans and animals. It is known that since ancient times, plants have been used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. For thousands of years in each region, plants were selected for these purposes, and therapeutic and prophylactic recipes were created (India, Tibet, China, Mongolia).

Interest in medicinal plants and preparations from them is determined by the whole way of life of mankind. The harmful effects of chemicals in the environment, synthetic drugs, to which a person is not evolutionarily adapted, chemical food additives lead to allergic diseases.

In connection with the foregoing, the issues of finding resources and isolating drugs from them that have tonic, adaptive, antioxidant and other types of actions are becoming very relevant at the present time. They are necessary for rehabilitation, prevention, protection against stress, for the correction of certain physiological functions in oncology, geriatrics, etc. As experimental studies have shown, many of the medicinal plants used in folk medicine for allergic conditions have a pronounced antihistamine activity, for example lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Essential oils and terpene fractions wild rosemary (Ledum palustre) in acute inflammatory conditions, they prevent the development of vascular disorders and associated exudative phenomena.

In the process of evolution, plants changed and adapted to certain environmental conditions, climate, solar and cosmic effects. As a result, they accumulated ecological and biochemical information, including biologically active substances (BAS) necessary for their own life activity and, as it turned out, for humans and animals. Despite the recent active development of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the creation of new highly effective drugs, medicinal herbs continue to occupy an important place in the arsenal of therapeutic agents. Especially often they are used at home.

Wealth and Diversity Far Eastern flora admired by its researchers. The plant kingdom of the southern part of the Far East is especially impressive. Untouched by glaciations, it is a bizarre mixture of evolutionarily young and very ancient, relict plants that grew here millions of years ago, back in the Lower Cretaceous. The close proximity of northern and southern, taiga and steppe species is striking. Diverse and life forms of plants, there are trees. shrubs, semi-shrubs, annual and perennial herbs; there are also tree vines climbing to a height of more than 20 meters.

A special place in the Far Eastern flora is occupied by plants with medicinal properties. Of the more than 2 thousand species growing in Primorye and Amuye, more than half are medicinal. Among them there are both world-famous and plants that were used only by the local population. Some of the species are common with those growing on the territory of the European part of Russia - these are celandine, wild rosemary, calamus. Other plants - lily of the valley Keizke, motherwort, Amur and Korean valerian are unique to our region, however, being closely related to European species, they have a similar chemical composition and application. We also have many plants that have no analogues in the vegetation of other regions of our country. These include the entire Araliaceae family, whose representatives are found only in the Far East, with the exception of ivy, which also grows in the western regions of the country. Finally, one can often find plants that are not indigenous to the vegetation of the south of the Far East; they appeared here solely thanks to man. This is a well-known oregano, and sea buckthorn.

Currently, medicinal plants are widely used in medicine, veterinary medicine and the food industry as food additives. Plant preparations are prescribed for the treatment of various diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive, broncho-pulmonary systems and other diseases. They are also used for the prevention of digestive disorders, hypovitaminosis, metabolic disorders and in the complex treatment of various diseases.

A variety of nutritional supplements have appeared, which are various extracts of active substances or simply crushed plants.

The advantage of medicinal plants is their low toxicity and the possibility of long-term use without pronounced side effects. In functional disorders and in mild forms of pathology, medicinal plants should be preferred for maintenance therapy.

medicinal plants- the oldest and completely unfilled treasury of medicines and technical raw materials. After all, about half of all medicines are obtained from plants. Unforgettable and today remains the aphorism of the ancient healers: “The doctor has three tools - the word, the plant and the knife”.

Here is a list of some medicinal plants of the Far East:

buttercup family - Ranunculaceae

Aroid family - Araceae

Actinidia family - Actinidiaceae

Araliaceae family - Araliaceae

Heather family - Ericaceae

Family saxifrage - Saxifragaceae

Barberry family — Berberidaceae

rue family — Rutaceae

Cowberry family - Vacciniaceae

Valerian family - Valerianaceae

grape family - Vitaceae

Buckwheat family - Polygonaceae

Compositae family - composites

The legume family Leguminosae

beech family - Fagaceae

Family Lamiaceae - Labiatae

Araliaceae family - Araliaceae

Ermolina Ekaterina

Essay on the environment

"Rare Animals of the Russian Far East"

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Municipal educational institution

Secondary school No. 12

SUMMARY ON THE WORLD

"RARE ANIMALS OF THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST"

Performed:

Ermolina E.

Supervisor:

Voytovich I.V.

Khabarovsk, 2011

Relevance of the topic:

The relevance (importance, significance) of this topic lies in the fact that we know very little about the world around us, and we know practically nothing about rare wild animals! As a result of human activities, the number of already rare wild animals is steadily declining, and if special and urgent measures are not taken to protect them, they may completely disappear from the face of the Earth, as Steller’s cow (a large marine mammal), which lived only in one place - on the Commander Islands and by the end of the 18th century it was completely exterminated by man, and whose skeleton can only be seen here - in the Khabarovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. N.I. Grodekov and at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

Purpose: To study the representatives of rare animals of the Russian Far East and to establish the reasons for their disappearance.

Tasks:

1. Conduct a theoretical study on this topic.
2. To establish the relationship of the diversity of the animal world with habitat conditions.
3. To identify the reasons for the extinction of animals in the Far East of Russia.

Subject area: Biology. Fauna of the Russian Far East.

Object of study: The disappearance of wild animals of the Far East, causes.

Subject of study: Rare animals of the Russian Far East.

Introduction: A modern person, especially a city dweller, at first glance does not depend much on nature. It is surrounded by solid heated houses, plants and factories; transport moves on asphalt pavements; rivers are clad in granite; little greenery. Even in the countryside, plowed fields approach housing, and the forest sometimes turns blue only on the horizon ... There are more than one and a half million species of animals on Earth. Big and small, from visible only through a microscope to giants weighing several tons, they inhabit forests, steppes and deserts, soils, seas and oceans, are found high in the mountains, in lightless caves and in polar ice.

Man has long used animals and plants. Ancient people lived by fishing and hunting, gathering berries, mushrooms, various fruits, and roots. Plants and animals gave man clothes, material for housing. Later, tamed animals became faithful helpers of man. And now wildlife is of great importance for humans, although we do not always realize this.

However, over time, the nature around us becomes poorer. On the slopes of the mountains, where powerful forests once grew, only bare rocks remained in places. Some species of animals and plants have completely disappeared due to the fault of man and can no longer be restored. But animals suffer not only from unreasonable extermination. The economic activity of man is increasingly changing the natural conditions familiar to certain animals, causing them sometimes irreparable harm. The shallowing of rivers and their pollution with industrial sewage kills fish; following deforestation, naturally, their four-legged and feathered inhabitants disappear, etc. For a long time, people did not pay attention to the impoverishment of wildlife. It was thought that the forests would last forever and the fish in the rivers would never run out. But now the picture has changed dramatically: many areas have become treeless, many animals have been exterminated. It became clear that it is impossible to mindlessly destroy nature, it requires attention, care and protection.

CHAPTER I. UNIQUE NATURE IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

§ 1. Geographical location and climatic conditions of the Russian Far East

The territory of the Far East of Russia is about 1/6 of the country's area. It includes the Magadan, Kamchatka, Sakhalin and Amur Regions, as well as the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories. Arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe areas - this is the list of natural areas in which animals live. Peculiar natural conditions for their existence are created by numerous mountain systems, as well as the seas of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

The Far East of Russia is located on the border of the largest continent of the Earth - Eurasia - and the greatest of the oceans - the Pacific. Therefore, a characteristic feature of its climate is the seasonal change of air flows from the mainland and from the ocean, due to their uneven heating and cooling.

The seasonal change of continental and maritime influence is especially pronounced in the southern part of the Russian Far East. At the same time, winds directed from land to the ocean prevail in winter, and from ocean to land in summer.

As a result of seasonal movements of air masses, winters in the Russian Far East are dry and cold, and summers are warm and humid.

The climate of the Russian Far East is also distinguished by extremely sharp average annual fluctuations in ambient temperatures, which increase in summer and decrease in winter.

All this led to a great diversity of the fauna of vertebrates.

§ 2. Flora and fauna of the Russian Far East

The flora and fauna of the Russian Far East, its flora and fauna, are also quite diverse. And the reason for this is the Pacific monsoons, which bring warmth and a lot of precipitation in summer, which sometimes fall on all living and non-living things with furious typhoons. It is this kind of weather that creates favorable conditions for the penetration of heat-loving plants and animals to our Far East, which is the outskirts of the continent, whose closest relatives live in the tropics of Southeast Asia. Representatives of the northern and southern flora and fauna converge here, live side by side. It is the mixture of northern (cold-loving) and southern (heat-loving) species of plants and animals, as well as the presence of a significant number of species that are not found anywhere else in Russia, or even in the world, that is a characteristic difference between the nature of the Russian Far East. This is due, among other things, to the fact that during the ice age the territories of the south of the Far East of Russia were not covered with ice and therefore pre-glacial species of animals and plants that had died out in other places were preserved here.

The combination of flora and fauna of the Russian Far East forms a unique natural complex of world importance.

At the same time, many of the unique species of wild animals of the Russian Far East, for various reasons, the main of which is human activity, are among the rare and endangered species that need special protection.

CHAPTER II. ANIMAL WORLD OF THE FAR EAST OF RUSSIA

§ 1. Diversity of the animal world of the Russian Far East

The fauna of the Far East is one of the most diverse on the territory of the Russian Federation. In general, the total number of rare vertebrates and invertebrates in need of protection in the Far East is 283 species, of which 102 species are endemic.

In the snow, you can see tiger and sable tracks nearby. In the immediate vicinity of the pile of snow that has not yet melted, a subtropical mandarin duck splashes in a small lake, and nearby stands a forest of coniferous and deciduous species entwined with rope-like vines. Ussuri pheasants hide in coastal thickets, and taiga white hares hide nearby. There are many such examples, and they all testify to the same thing: the combination of heterogeneous elements of northern and southern nature inherent in the Far East.

The most famous rare and protected species are the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard, the sea otter (sea otter), the native population of the spotted deer, the Amur goral, the white stork, the Siberian white crane, the crested eagle, the paradise flycatcher, the mandarin duck, the Far Eastern tortoise (trionyx) and others.

§ 2. The importance of animals for our planet

The basis of life on Earth is green plants, in the tissues of which, when the energy of sunlight is absorbed from carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts, various organic substances are formed. However, animals are not a secondary component of nature, only consuming substances created by plants. Animals participate in the great cycle of substances in nature, without which no organism can exist, life on Earth cannot continue.

Any natural complex of organisms on the surface of our planet includes three essential components: green plants that create organic substances from inorganic (scientifically - producers) ; animals, mostly feeding on plants and processing their tissues, dispersing organic substances on the surface of the soil or in its thickness(consumers) , and bacteria and fungi that convert organic substances, including those scattered by animals, again into mineral salts and gases(decomposers) . The latter can again be used by the leaves and roots of plants. This is how the cycle of substances and energy with the participation of organisms is established in nature.

§ 3. Causes of extinction (extinction) of animals.

The main and only reason for the extinction of wild animals is human activity.

Practical interest in the extraction and use of Far Eastern fauna has existed for hundreds of years. But the results of the impact on nature have never been so detrimental as at the present time. The intensification of fisheries, which do not recognize any restrictions, and often illegal ones, now puts not only individual species, but also some biocenoses on the verge of complete physical destruction.

Among other things, the reasons for the interest in animals of the Far Eastern nature lie in the traditions of oriental medicine, the culinary peculiarities of the countries of East and Southeast Asia, mythology and superstitions that have outgrown national borders and have become one of the global factors in the commercial demand for exotic medicines, food, amulets, etc. only in the countries of the Pacific region, but also in many others.

It is not possible to influence these reasons in order to reduce demand, on the contrary, with the help of advertising of medicines, esoteric teachings and the actual expansion of the national cuisine of East Asian countries to Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia in the coming years, no doubt, the trend will continue and even intensify. In addition, in the adjacent territories of China and Korea (which provided some of these raw materials a few decades ago), similar types of biodiversity, mainly associated with the Manchurian fauna, are almost completely exterminated, and the laws of these countries regarding poaching are characterized by increased rigidity and uncompromisingness.

CHAPTER III. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOST RARE SPECIES OF THE FAUNA OF THE FAR EAST OF RUSSIA

§ one. FAR EASTERN LEOPARD

Far Eastern leopard- the northernmost subspecies of the leopard. It is distinguished by thick long fur, especially noticeable in winter attire, and is one of the most beautiful and rarest big cats in the world. The Far Eastern leopard is listed in the Red Book of Russia, in the International Red Book, in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The body length of the Far Eastern leopard is 107-136 cm. And the length of its tail is 82 - 90 cm. It turns out that the tail of the Far Eastern leopard is almost as long as its body!

color tones.

The Far Eastern leopard has blue eyes!

The Far Eastern leopard hunts in the evening and always alone in the first half of the night. And only the female leopard hunts together with grown-up kittens, she teaches her kittens to hunt. The Far Eastern leopard eats deer and roe deer,badgers , raccoons , hares, pheasants , hazel grouse .

A female Far Eastern leopard usually gives birth to 1-3 cubs. They are born blind, with spotted coloration. Caves, crevices, pits under twisted tree roots in a deaf, secluded place serve as their lair. On the 12-15th day, the kittens begin to crawl, and by two months they begin to leave the den.

Currently, the Far Eastern leopard is on the verge of complete destruction. According to the Far Eastern Branch of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Russia, about 34 Far Eastern leopards remained in the wild by the end of 2010 (see Appendix No. 1). And man is to blame for this: he cuts down forests, pollutes the air and water, poachers hunt leopards.

§ 2. AMUR TIGER

The largest cat on the planet, the Amur tiger, lives in the Far East of Russia.

Despite its size, enormous physical strength, lack of enemies, and the ability to starve for a long time, the owner of the Ussuri taiga is easily vulnerable. The striped proud predator, a symbol of the wealth and beauty of the Far Eastern nature, is also on the verge of extinction.

According to research by the Far East Branch of WWF Russia, today only 450 Amur tigers live in the Russian Far East (see Appendix No. 2).

Preservation of the tiger is a guarantee of the preservation of the Far Eastern nature.

The Amur tiger is depicted oncoat of arms of the Khabarovsk Territory :

The Amur tiger distinguishes colors. At night, he sees five times better than a human. The body length of males of the Amur tiger to the tip of the tail reaches 2.7-3.8 m, females are smaller. Tail length up to 100 cm. Height at the withers up to 105-110 cm, weight 160-270 kg. The record weight of a tiger is 384 kg. The tiger is a vulnerable animal, despite its large size and great physical strength. In the snow, he can run at speeds up to 50 km / h.

The Amur tiger hunts at night. The Amur tiger marks the territory of its residence by scratching the claws on tree trunks.

Tigers greet each other with special snorting sounds that are formed when air is vigorously exhaled through the nose and mouth. Signs of friendliness are also touching heads, muzzles and even rubbing sides.

Despite the enormous strength and developed sense organs, the tiger has to devote a lot of time to hunting, since only one out of 10 attempts is successful. The tiger crawls up to its prey, while moving in a special way: arching its back and resting its hind legs on the ground.

The tiger eats lying down, holding the prey with its paws. Like any cat, the Siberian tiger can eat fish, frogs, birds and mice. A tiger needs to eat 9-10 kg of meat per day.

§ 3. FAR EASTERN WHITE STORK -winged symbol of cupid

The main part of the population - about four hundred pairs - inhabits the wetlands of the Amur Valley, the Tunguska and Ussuri rivers.

Outside of Russia, our stork nests only in northeastern China.

It flies early for wintering, gradually gathering in flocks. Far Eastern whites overwinter onplains of China's Yangtze River, preferring wet places - shallow ponds and rice fields.

The Far Eastern white stork is similar to a plain white stork in plumage color, but our stork is slightly larger, has a more powerful black beak, and legs have a brighter red color. Around the eyes of the Far Eastern white stork is a non-feathered area of ​​red skin. The chicks of the Far Eastern white stork are white with a reddish-orange beak, while the chicks of the common white stork have a black beak.

The Far Eastern white stork feeds on small fish and frogs. It tries to avoid human settlements and nests in remote, inaccessible places. It nests high on trees near water bodies - lakes, rivers and swamps. It also uses other high-rise structures, such as power lines, to build nests. Nest of branches about two meters in diameter, height from 3.4 to 14 m. The Far Eastern white stork uses the same nest for several years in a row. Lays eggs at the end of April, depending on the conditions, there are from 3 to 4 eggs in a clutch. A month later, the chicks hatch, like the rest of the storks, helpless. Their parents feed them by regurgitating food into their beaks, and water them in the same way.

CONCLUSION.

The disappearance of rare species of wild animals is an irreparable loss both for planet Earth and for all mankind, since all existing species of animals and plants are interconnected and the disappearance of any of them can lead to unpredictable environmental consequences, therefore Russia, as a country, is responsible to the entire world community for the conservation of such species of wild animals as, for example, the Ussuri tiger and the Amur leopard. Rare and endangered species of wild animals are listed in the Red Book. Each page of this unusual Book is an alarm signal. Species that have fallen into it need special attention, special protection, special study. After all, in order to protect animals, you need to know more about them!

And we, as citizens of Russia, must make every effort so that no other animal species disappears from the face of planet Earth.

Bibliography:

1. Aramilev V.V., Fomenko P.V. Distribution and abundance of the Far Eastern leopard in the southwest of Primorsky Krai // Protection and rational use of animal and plant resources. Irkustk: IGSHA, 2000.
2. Newspaper "Panda". Edition for supporters of WWF Russia. Vladivostok: Call of the Taiga. Issue No. 1 (September, 2002).
3. Newspaper "Panda". Edition for supporters of WWF Russia. Vladivostok: Call of the Taiga. Issue No. 2 (June, 2003).
4. Newspaper "Panda". Edition for supporters of WWF Russia. Vladivostok: Call of the Taiga. Issue No. 1 (June, 2005).
5. Newspaper "Panda". Edition for supporters of WWF Russia. Vladivostok: Call of the Taiga. Issue No. 3 (16) (April, 2010).
6. Far Eastern leopard: life on the edge. WWF Russia (Author of the text, Ph.D. M. Krechmar) - Vladivostok, 2005. 44 p.
7. Red Book of the Russian Federation.- Moscow: AST, Astrel, 2001
8. Red Book of the Khabarovsk Territory: Rare and endangered species of plants and animals: official publication / Ministry of Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Territory, Institute of Water and Environmental Problems, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.-Khabarovsk: Priamurskiye Vedomosti Publishing House, 2008. - 632 p.: ill.
9. Pikunov D.G., Seredkin I.V., Aramilev V.V., Nikolaev I.G., Murzin A.A. Large predators and ungulates of the southwest of Primorsky Krai. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2009. 96 p.
10. About tigers and cubs. Collection of methodical materials for work with children. Vladivostok: WWF - Russia, 2008. - 144 p., ill.
11. Save every one left: Land of the leopard. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2007. 20s.

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